COFFEE
Coffee spp
Family:
Rubiaceae
2n=4x=44
The
soil and climatic requirements for Arabica and Robusta varieties are as
follows: The soil and climatic requirements for Arabica and Robusta varieties
are as follows
|
|
Arabica
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Robusta
|
|
Elevation
|
1000-1500m above MSL
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500-1000 m above MSL
|
|
Annual rainfall
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1600-2500 mm
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1000-2000mm
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Blossom rain
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March-April
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Feb-March
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|
Backing rain
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April-May
|
April -May
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shade
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Medium to light
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Uniform thin
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|
Temperature
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15-255 C
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20-30 C
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|
Relative humidity
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70-80 percentage
|
80-90 per cent
|
PREPATION
LAND
In
forest regions, trees are selectively felled to retain those that are
beneficial and spaced correctly. Clearing the undergrowth helps in marking
lines and preparing pits. The land is then divided into blocks, with roads and
footpaths for easy movement. In April,
pits of 45 cm x 45 cm x 45 cm may be opened at appropriate spacing for
different coffee cultivars as described below
Tall
arabica like S 795, S 288: 2.1 m x 2.1 m
Semi-dwarfs
like Cauvery: 1.8 m x 1.8 m
Dwarf like
S7(San Ramon) :1.5 m x 1.5 m
Hybrid
like congensis x Robusta (C X R) : 2.5 m
x2.5 m
In areas
with poor soil, 250 grams of farmyard manure (FYM) or compost can be added to
each pit before filling.
Planting materials
|
Variety Type
|
Examples
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Growth Habit
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Resistance to Leaf Rust
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Adaptability
|
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Old Varieties
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Kents, Coorgs
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Tall
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Highly susceptible
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Limited
|
|
Dwarf Varieties
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San Ramon (S7, S7.1, S7.2, S7.3)
|
|
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Widely cultivated
|
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Medium Varieties
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Cauvery (Catimor)
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Medium
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Better resistance
|
Popular for yield and resistance
|
|
Tall Varieties
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S.795
|
Tall
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Moderate resistance
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Suitable for all regions
|
|
Location-specific
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Sln 5, Sln 6, Sln 7
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Varies
|
Varies
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Region-specific
|
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Other Selections
|
Sln 9, Chandragiri
|
Varies
|
Varies
|
Region-specific
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Propagation
Coffee
is usually propagated through seeds. Recently, clonal propagation has also been
successfully used in Robusta. Grafted plants are also planted to a small
extent. Healthy
and fully mature fruits are harvested from selected and certified seed blocks.
Only fruits with normal appearance and about three-quarters ripened are chosen.
For Arabica, harvesting is done in November–December. For Robusta, it is done
in January–February. Fruits
that float are discarded. The good fruits are pulped and sieved to remove
defective beans. The good beans are then mixed with wood ash at the rate of
0.75 kg per kg of seeds. These
beans are dried in the shade with regular stirring to ensure even drying. To
protect the seeds from microbial infections, they are treated with either carbendazim
at 1 gram or vitavax at 0.66 grams per kg of seed coffee.
Germination
Bed (Primary Nursery):
Coffee
seeds are first sown in raised beds that are about 15 cm above ground level.
These beds should have good drainage and are made using a mix of soil, compost,
and sand in a 6:2:1 ratio.
A
bed of size 4 m × 3 m is ideal for sowing around 1.5 kg of seeds. Seeds are
placed 1.0 to 1.5 cm apart in rows, with the flat side facing down. After
sowing, a thin layer of soil is spread over the seeds, followed by a 5 cm thick
layer of dry straw. This helps maintain moisture and a stable temperature. For
Arabica coffee, sowing is done during December–January. For Robusta, it is done
during February–March. In the first week, the beds are watered twice daily,
then the watering frequency is adjusted based on moisture levels. The
seeds start germinating in about 40 days, at which point the straw is removed.
To protect the young seedlings, a shade structure (pandal) is erected over the
beds using coir mats or dry leaves.
Polybag
(Basket) Nursery:
When
the seedlings reach the 'button' stage, usually by February–March, they are
moved to polythene bags for further growth. Polybags
of size 23 cm × 15 cm and 150 gauge thickness are commonly used. Each bag
should have several small holes (about 3 mm wide) in the lower half for proper
drainage. These bags are filled with a mixture made of 6 parts sieved forest
soil, 2 parts well-decomposed cattle manure, and 1 part fine sand. The mix is
slightly moistened and firmly packed into the bags. The
bags are arranged in rows of 10 inside rectangular frames made of bamboo. These
frames are supported with wooden or bamboo stakes fixed into the ground.
Before
transplanting, water the bag and make a 5 cm deep vertical hole in the center
of the soil. Carefully lift the seedling from the germination bed, taking care
not to damage the roots. It is best to slightly trim the tip of the taproot
before planting. Position the roots properly in the hole to ensure good contact with the soil and support healthy growth. Make
sure the seedling's stem remains at the same level above the soil as it was in
the primary bed. Transplanting should ideally be done early in the morning or
late in the afternoon to avoid heat stress. Seedlings
should be planted right after removal from the germination bed and not stored
for long, to prevent damage and ensure quick establishment.
Secondary
Nursery Beds:
In
some regions, seedlings from germination beds are moved to secondary nursery
beds. These beds are made using the same soil mix as the germination
beds. Transplanting is done when the seedlings reach the button stage. Seedlings
are spaced 30 cm apart from each other. If the taproot is too long or bent, it
should be trimmed before planting. The beds are covered with mulch to keep
moisture. Watering is done regularly, preferably in the early morning.
Aftercare
of seedlings
Seedlings are to be manured once in two months
with urea dissolved in water or supernatant solution of fermented cowdung
slurry. For an area of 1 m2, 20 g urea dissolved in 4.5 litres water is
sufficient. Adequate protection is given against nursery diseases and pests.
Overhead shade in the nursery has to be thinned and finally removed after the
onset of monsoon (this is not applicable to northeastern areas). The seedlings
grow vigorously if watered judiciously and protected against afternoon sun.
Field
Planting
Select
healthy, disease-free seedlings. Discard
seedlings with stunted or twisted roots. Rooted
seedlings (16–18 months old) are planted in June.
Bag
seedlings are usually planted in September–October. After
leveling the pit, make a hole in the center. Place
the seedling with taproot and lateral roots properly spread. Fill
the hole and pack the soil 3 cm above ground level to prevent water
stagnation. Support
the seedling with cross stakes and apply mulch.
Planting
Ball and Bag Seedlings:
Plant
ball and bag seedlings at the end of the monsoon, around September.
Cut
the bottom of the bag and nip the taproot tip. Carefully
remove the seedling with its soil intact. Place
it in the pit and cover with soil firmly, like ball seedlings. Maintaining
both ball and bag nurseries is helpful.
Use
two planting seasons: June and September.
Manuring
Species | Pre- Blossom March
N:P2O5:K2O | Post – blossom May
N:P2O5:K2O | Mid monsoon
August
N:P2O5:K2O | Post- monsoon
October
N:P2O5:K2O | Total |
| Arabica |
| Young coffee 1st year after planting | 15:10:15 | 15:10:15 | --- | 15:10:15 | 45:30:45 |
| 2nd and 3rd year | 20:10:20 | 20:10:20 | --- | 20:15:20 | 60:45:60 |
| 4th year | 30:20:30 | 20:20:20 | --- | 30:20:30 | 80:60:80 |
Bearing coffee 5 years and above for less
than one tonne/ha crop | 40:30:40 | 40:30:40 | --- | 40:30:40 | 140:90:120 |
| For one tonne / ha and above | 40:30:40 | 40:30:40 | 40:30:40 | 40:30:40 | 160:120:160 |
| Robusta |
| For less than one tonne/ ha crop | 40:30:40 | --- | --- | 40:30:40 | 80:60:80 |
| For 1 tonne /ha and above | 40:30:40 | 40:30:40 | --- | 40:30:40 | 120:90:120 |
Harvest
Harvest starts during November and harvesting extends up to February. Coffee fruits should be harvested as and when they become ripe. Coffee is just ripe when on gently squeezing the fruits the beans inside come out easily. Unripe fruits should be scrupulously sorted out before using the fruits for pulping. They may be dried separately as cherry.
Fly picking: Small scale picking of ripe berries during October to February
Main picking: Well formed and ripened berries are harvested during December. Bulks of the yields are obtained from this picking.
Stripping: Picking of all the berries left irrespective of ripening.
Cleanings: This is collection of fruits that have been dropped during harvesting.
Unripe fruits should be scrupulously sorted out before using the fruits for pulp They may be dried separately as cherry
mature berry
Yield
750 - 1000 kg dry parchment /ha
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